Houston WR Rodriguez granted medical hardship

University of Houston wide receiver Andrew Rodriguez has been granted a medical hardship waiver for the 2012 season, the school announced Wednesday.

Wide receiver Andrew Rodriguez was limited to two games with a groin injury last season. (UH sports information)

Rodriguez will be classified as a true freshman next season and have four years of eligibility remaining.

Rodriguez played in only two games for the Cougars last season before suffering a season-ending groin injury. He finished with five catches for 87 yards, all in Week 2 against Louisiana Tech.

With his return, the Cougars are expected to have one of the deepest receiving corps in the American Athletic Conference with Larry McDuffie, Deontay Greenberry, Dewayne Peace, Daniel Spencer, Xavier Maxwell and the signing earlier this week of Markeith Ambles, who began his college career at USC.

The Cougars are awaiting word on receiver Shane Ros, who suffered a leg injury in Monday’s practice.

To follow the blog post, the news about Rodriguez is the biggest news of the day. This is the one guy with the kind of blazing speed we have had in the past with guys like Edwards and Avery. Playing at wide out Rodriguez will stretch the field and make the defense shift to cover him. It is likely he will at all times be the fastest guy on the field, something that has been an integral part of this offense since the days of Art Briles.

And bringing Greenberry over the middle will only make it harder for the defense to cheat. Now the linebackers (or at least one of them) will have to drop back in coverage and no linebacker can keep up with this guy once he gets the ball. Give Greenberry one step with the ball and you will be reading his rear license plate. Speed kills. Good move coach.